Friday, February 22, 2008

This tutorial will show you how you can make this simple carry-all from a recycled plastic bottle.

This basic pattern can be altered in so many ways such as different color applications and combinations of different crochet stitches to give you a different look or design. Here I've posted a basic pattern using single crochet, double crochet and triple crochet. There are many great websites that teach how to do these simple stitches.

-crochet hook (I used H/5mm) Make sure your hook is small enough to fit through your holes punched in the bottle.

-Hole punch and scissors

1. Prep the plastic bottle by cutting the top off. If the top edge is sharp you may want to use fine sandpaper to smooth the edge. With your hole punch make an evenly spaced row of holes along the top edge. Be careful that the holes aren't too close to the edge.

2. Attach yarn to the bottle:(round 1) Make a slip knot on your hook, insert hook through first hole in bottle and crochet a SC through hole. Continue to make one SC through each hole around. Join to beginning SC.

3. Crocheting the top:(round 2) 1 SC in each SC across.(round 3) *2SC in first SC, 1 SC in next 5SC*; repeat from * around(round 4) *2SC in first SC, 1 SC in next 4SC*; repeat from * around(round 5) *2SC in first SC, 1 SC in next 3SC*; repeat from * around(round6-until desired height) 1SC in all sts around and around. (I did 6-24 rows)

*Bonus-you always have a place to store your yarn and hook when working on this project. :)

5. Scalloped edge:*6 DC in first "space", SC in next "space"*; repeat from * aroundFasten off, weave in ends.6. Make drawstring:There are two applications you could use here. I've a CH st chain about 1 and a half times the length of the top edge. Then I wove my chain through the TR spaces.

An alternative to this would be to make two chains about 10 inches longer than the length of the top edge. Weave both chains through the TR spaces. Fasten each chain to itself to make two individual loops. Then pull each loop in opposite directions to cinch closed.

Viola!

Note-I chose to crochet in the round for a seamless look. Also--If you're number of holes punched is an odd number that doesn't exactly coordinate with the pattern-adjust to your needs. This pattern is very flexible and doesn't really need to be concise with increases and number of stitches.)

If you make a recycled bag using this tutorial I'd LOVE to see it. Please leave a link in the comment section of this post. If you'd like to share a link to this tutorial on another site that would be awesome, but please give me a heads up!

This tutorial is intended for personal use, please don't sell goods made from this pattern.

*I don't claim to be an expert at writing a crochet pattern, if you find the directions confusing or an error please let me know!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The EtsyMom street team is organizing a spring promotion to raise money for charity. A basket of donated etsymom goods will be auctioned off at Mommy Auctions. You can visit the EtsyMom blog for details and information on how to win this basket of goodies! I've donated this Spring Chick Necklace for the basket:

Saturday, February 2, 2008

My personal theory is that Valentine's Day has been strategically placed smack dab in the middle of winter blah. Something to get our mind off of the fact that I haven't felt the warmth of the sun on my skin in oh, I don't know 100 days or something ridiculous like that! A little red warm fuzzy to remind us that it's not that bad....somebody loves you.